Collaborative Research: Optimization of Urban Designs for Air Quality and Energy Efficiency

CBET-0828214 Pardyjak，Eric - U.彼得·威廉森（Willemsen，Peter）明尼苏达州本提案的目的是增加环境和城市形态如何相互作用的知识。它的假设是，最佳的城市结构和布局存在，可以最大限度地减少能源的使用，同时也最大限度地减少空气污染exposure. A非常快速和廉价的能源使用和分散城市地区的建模工具将开发建设PI以前的工作。建模系统将利用图形处理单元（GPU，经常用于视频游戏行业）提供的独特计算并行性，运行许多模拟，以训练优化算法，确定城市结构及其布局的最佳设计。这项拟议的研究还将利用一个互动和沉浸式的虚拟环境，以更好地理解和完善与城市环境中的能量平衡和污染物扩散相关的复杂物理过程。通过这项工作开发的建模能力将有助于城市规划者制定有用和新颖的规划战略，以提高现代城市的可持续性。PI将在整个模型开发过程中与城市规划者合作。这些建模功能还将为建筑师提供帮助，不仅可以分析孤立的建筑物，还可以在设计过程中了解多个建筑物的相互作用。此外，该提案还包括一个实质性的外展部分，旨在为美国印第安人，阿拉斯加原住民和其他少数民族提供独特的教育机会，以了解环境工程建模的各个方面。通过我们的计划，来自明尼苏达州北方的美国印第安学生将被邀请参加为期一周的互动学习研讨会，在三年的赠款。

CBET- 0828214Pardyjak, Eric - U. UtahCBET-0828206Willemsen, Peter - U. MinnesotaThe objective of this proposal is to increase knowledge for how environment and urban form interact. Its hypothesis is that optimal urban structures and layouts exist which can minimize energy use while also minimizing air pollution exposure.An extremely fast and inexpensive energy use and dispersion modeling tool for urban areas will be developed by building on PIs previous work. The modeling system will utilize the unique computational parallelism afforded by graphics processing units (GPUs, that are regularly utilized in the video game industry), to run many simulations in an effort to train an optimization algorithm for determining optimal designs for urban structures and their layout. This proposed research will also utilize an interactive and immersive virtual environment to provide better understanding and refinement of the complex physical processes associated with the energy balance and pollutant dispersion in an urban setting. Modeling capabilities that will be developed through this work will aid urban planners in developing useful and novel planning strategies to improve the sustainability of modern cities. The PIs will work with urban planners throughout the model development process. These modeling capabilities will also aid architects by providing them with a tool that not only analyzes isolated buildings, but also provides understanding regarding the interaction of multiple buildings during the design process. In addition, this proposal has a substantial outreach component designed to provide a unique educational opportunity for American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and other minorities to learn about various aspects of modeling in environmental engineering. Through our program, American Indian students from Northern Minnesota will be invited to a weeklong interactive learning symposium during each of the three years of the grant.